T.P. Sreenivasan, who retired from the highest level in the Indian Foreign Service on June 30, 2004 at the age of 60, has 37 years of diplomatic experience in crucial appointments around the globe.

He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1967 through a highly competitive Civil Service examination with a brilliant academic record, having stood first in the University of Kerala in the Bachelors and Masters examinations.

After successful training for two years, he served as the Third Secretary in the Embassy of India, Tokyo (1969-71) where he passed an advanced examination in the Japanese language with distinction. He won prizes in Japanese debating and interpreted speeches on live television. He also demonstrated his talent for commercial work. Ambassador Vincent Coelho characterized him as "much loved, much admired", when he left Tokyo.

In Thimphu, Bhutan, (1971-74) as the First Secretary in the Indian Mission, he dealt with the complex and important relationship with a friendly neighbouring country and made a mark for his sensitivity and diplomatic skills.

Sreenivasan is presently the Director General of the Kerala International Centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. He is also the Executive Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 2020 Project. He is an Advisor to Asianet, the largest Malayalam television channel and produces a weekly program on Foreign Affairs called "Videsha Vicharam". As a freelance writer, he contributes to Asia Wall Street Journal, Times of India, Tribune and Rediff.com.

Sreenivasan is the author of two books, "Words, Words, Words - Adventures in Diplomacy" (Pearson Longman) and "Encounters" (Rythm House).

Sreenivasan is married to Lekha Sreenivasan, an accomplished Bharathanatyam dancer and painter. She established the Karuna Charities International in New York, with Chapters in other cities. Their elder son, Sreenath Sreenivasan, is the Professor of New Media at the Journalism School of Columbia University, New York. He and his wife, Roopa Unnikrishnan, an Arjuna award winner for excellence in sport (rifle shooting) and a Rhodes Scholar, have twin children, Durga and Krishna. Sreenath was recently featured by the ‘Newsweek’ among the 20 most influential South Asians in the US. Sreenivasan’s younger son, Sreekanth Sreenivasan, is the Business Development Manager for the Afras group of companies in Dubai.